Thursday 9 June 2011

Northern Greece, 1989 - report part 1

As promised in the 'preview' post, here is the report of the (solo) playtest of this scenario.  Please refer to the earlier post for the complete 'map'.
The game was designed to last a maximum of 10 turns (approximately 2.5 hours of 'game time'), and the Soviet commander was tasked with the capture of the border post and the river crossing at the southern end of the board.
The Greek commander scored 5 Victory Points for holding each of the above at the end of the game, plus 1 VP for each Soviet battalion eliminated.  The score was reduced by 1VP for each Greek stand lost.
Greek forces consisted of an infantry battalion (3 rifle companies, plus HW and AT) at the border, plus two artillery (105mm) batteries, an AA battery and brigade HQ.  They could be reinforced by an additional battalion, possibly including tanks.
The Sovs had a Motor Rifle Regiment (BTR-70 & T-62) with an additional engineer company and support from a battery of long-range (130mm) guns firing on the pre-registered border positions from off-table.  An airmobile battalion, transported by helicopter was also assigned. 
Turn 1 - The Mi-8s arrive - over the Greek artillery...
...and in the village - with the AA battery in the next hex!
Sadly the Hips didn't have sufficient movement to allow the troops to be landed this turn!  At least the AA didn't hit anything.
The Soviet long-range artillery opens up on the border defenders.
The Soviet Paras take the Greek gunners roughly from behind ....
...causing the gunners to suffer a catastrophic morale failure.
The Hips fly home.
The lead MR Btl approaches the border.
A tank btl (T-62) moves to the flank.
The other half of the Para Btl gets involved in a messy scrap with the AA battery.  The dice indicate that the Paras have suffered a loss while the AA gunners have been wiped out!
The T-62 btl crosses the border minefield - always knew those minerollers would come in handy!
The MR troopers wait for the Divisional engineers (mine-clearing specialists!) to arrive.
More tanks appear on the border.
The Greek Brigade HQ heads for the border.
The fun really starts when Sov air support ( a flight of Su-7) bombs the borders defences - much to the consternation of the Greek infantry!

8 comments:

Paul said...

The Soviet Paras take the Greek gunners roughly from behind ....

Umm is it just me or does that sound a little frisky?

Nice start to a good looking game.

Regards Paul

Tim Gow said...

Paul
Just your dirty mind I fear!

Biff Tanner said...

Looks like it's coming along

Conrad Kinch said...

And to think this used to be a haven of sense and tasteful conversation.

No wait.

Tim Gow said...

Biff Tanner
Part 2 coming soon!

Tim Gow said...

Conrad Kinch
I'm sure you'll be able to raise the tone of things...

Don M said...

Sorry but my mind must have been where Paul's was....Conrad brought the decorum back to the conversation thankfully.

Splendid looking game thus far Tim!

Tim Gow said...

Don M
Typical of you rough colonial types!
Glad you're enjoying the story so far.